With the opening of J. Gumbo’s fast-casual chain in the Flatiron District, you can now get a bite of the Bayou in the Big Apple.
I was invited to stop in to try their boldly flavored, hearty portions of Cajun-Creole 
foods. The owners offered us samples of almost the entire menu. They offer two hearty sizes (snack $4.99; or huge $8.99) each served along with corn bread and over a choice of white or brown rice, the latter only at this NYC location. Add a soft drink and one of David’s yummy cookies $1.99.
Some favorites include the Bumblebee Stew, a sweet and not-too-spicy blend of corn, tomatoes, onions and black beans; the spicy garlicky Voodoo Chicken in tomato sauce; slow-cooked red Camellia beans, rice and sausage; and the Drunken Chicken slow-cooked in beer with 
tomatoes and Cajun spices. We also liked their newest menu item, slow-cooked Zydeco chicken, in a garlic sweet chili sauce with a little both spice and sweetness.
The okra is missing from their eponymous classic dish, as I was told the gumbo “soup” with chicken, smoked sausage and rice would get gummy, if okra was added. I found the smoked sausage in the jambalaya too mushy for my tastes, and the cornbread in need of more cooking, something easily rectified! The crawfish etouffee does have a flavor reminiscent of N’Orleans’ cooking; it’s just missing the flavor of file powder. If you’re interested in the nutrients of each dish, their website offers those facts for each dish.
If you’re in the area and in need of a hearty quick cheap-eats meal, I recommend you stop by. You won’t leave hungry. Just check first to see if they’ve gotten their liquor license. If not, you can stop in at the liquor store just west of the restaurant to pick up some libations, as it’s BYO until they get the license.
– bonnie
J. Gumbo’s
Flatiron
61 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
212-206-8501
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